[07-25-2022] Kern County, CA- 1-year-old Killed, 5 Injured in Suspected DUI Two-Vehicle Crash on Shafter Avenue and Burbank Street

According to the California Highway Patrol, a 1-year-old boy was killed, and five others were injured in a crash that is being investigated for DUI on Saturday, July 25, 2022.

According to the officials, the crash happened on Shafter Avenue and Burbank Street shortly before 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

According to a CHP investigation, Irving Rodriguez-Barraza, 22, of Wasco, was driving a Dodge Ram east on Burbank Street with passenger Cruz Carrillo Olvera, 48.

Jesus Tejada Sanchez, 29, of Bakersfield, was driving a Jeep Cherokee north on Shafter Avenue near Burbank Street with passengers Joanne Figueroa, 34, and two children ages 6 and 1.

According to officials, Rodriguez-Barraza ran a stop sign and crashed into the left side of the Jeep, pushing it into an almond orchard.

According to authorities, the Jeep struck two power poles and an almond tree before overturning on its left side. The Dodge struck a stop sign.

According to CHP, all six people involved in the crash were taken to Kern Medical for treatment of major or moderate injuries.

All adults were wearing seatbelts, and both children were in car seats, but it is unknown whether the car seats were properly strapped into the car.

The 1-year-old passenger in the Jeep died at the hospital, according to officials.

Rodriguez-Barraza was taken into custody. Officials said he is being investigated for causing the collision and driving under the influence.

FATAL DUI ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Driving while high on drugs or alcohol is extremely dangerous. They endanger themselves as well as other road users.

Drunk driving accidents can have life-changing consequences for those involved. Since the late 1970s, the number of drunk driving incidents in the United States has steadily increased.

Each day, approximately 30 Americans are killed as a result of drunk driving accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for nearly a quarter of all traffic fatalities in the United States.

Drunk drivers caused nearly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities in the United States in 2016. Drunk driving was responsible for 17% of all deaths involving young people under the age of 14 in 2016.

Last year, more than 1,000 Californians were killed in drunk driving-related accidents, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Thousands of people have died or been seriously injured as a result of drunk driving.

KERN COUNTY DUI ACCIDENT LAWYERS

When a drunk driver injures or kills someone, there should be no room for complacency. Victims of drunk driving accidents should gather and present evidence to prove that the drunk driver was solely responsible.

Additional defendants, for example, could have been involved in a drunk driving accident. If you have been injured or killed in a California DUI accident, you should thoroughly investigate and evaluate all possible avenues for compensation.

Arash Law’s Kern County DUI accident victims lawyers are committed to investigating all avenues of compensation for our client’s losses. It is appropriate to punish them for their actions because they should have known better than to drive under the influence.

Arash Law’s main goal is to raise as much money as possible for medical expenses and family support.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver in California, please do not hesitate to contact our legal team. Please contact us at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our online contact form if you have any questions or concerns.